Limpopo mining conference sparks the need for change
Mineral Resources and Energy Minster Gwede Mantashe has asked mining companies to prioritise meaningful consultations with community stakeholders when they develop social and labour plans (SLP).
The SLP document is used to thoroughly explain commitments a mining company makes to employees and affected communities, detailing how those objectives will be best achieved.
Mantashe made the plea on day two of the September 29-30 investment conference on mining, energy and industrialisation, held under the theme ‘Realising Limpopo’s investment potential in mining and other strategic sectors of the economy’ at The Ranch Resort outside the city.
Local government officials, including Premier Chupu Mathabatha and Economic Development and Tourism MEC, Thabo Mokone were part of the highly esteemed hosts of the event.
Various mining investors, companies and economists joined them for engagements.
There have been several instances in Limpopo where mining companies did not adhere to their SLPs, causing disappointments for communities who hoped that their areas would eventually have social and economic developments.
In his welcome message, Mathabatha highlighted the aim of hosting the conference, saying they want to be hosts of mining factories in the province’s confines, as processing them elsewhere in the country or world reduces the economic development of Limpopo as a rural province.
“We cannot continue to have mining houses that mine minerals in this province and process them elsewhere or keep their headquarters elsewhere,” he announced.
Mathabatha mentioned that the act of taking raw minerals to be processed outside the province furthermore sends the message that professionals of Limpopo are not sufficiently skilled to handle the work.
“It means you are saying we keep unskilled labour here or we only produce those who do the mining activity and not management or processors. That has to change,” he added.